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  Drives

Drives

Your computer supports:

• One SATA hard drive
  
  
• One optional floppy drive or media card reader or one second SATA hard drive
  
  
• One optional optical (CD or DVD) drive
  
  

1

optical drive

2

floppy drive or media card reader or SATA hard drive

3

hard drive

General Installation Guidelines

Connect the SATA hard drive to the connector labeled "SATA0." Connect the SATA CD or DVD drives to the connector labeled "SATA1" on the system board. Connect a second optional hard drive to the connector labeled "SATA2." See System Board Components for information about system board connectors.

Connecting Drive Cables

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and a data cable—to the back of the drive and to the system board.

Drive Interface Connectors

Serial ATA Connector

1

interface cable connector

2

interface connector

Interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion.

Power Cable Connectors

Serial ATA Power Connector

1

power cable

2

power input connector

Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

When connecting and disconnecting a SATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.

Optical Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

Removing an Optical Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

3. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the drive towards the back of the computer. Then lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   

1	drive release latch
2	optical drive

4. Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the drive.
   
   
5. If you are not replacing the optical drive at this time, install the optical drive insert by lowering it into the drive bay until it clicks into place. Contact Dell if you need a drive bay insert.
   
   

Installing an Optical Drive

1. Unpack the drive and prepare it for installation.
   
   

Check the documentation that accompanied the drive to verify that the drive is configured for your computer.

2. Pull up on the drive-release latch and slide the drive towards the back of the computer. Then, lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   
3. If you are installing a new drive:
   
   
   1. Remove the inserts.
      
      
   2. Insert the three shoulder screws removed from the insert into the sides of the new drive and tighten them.
      
      
   3. Lift the drive release latch up and insert the new optical device.
      
      
4. If you are replacing an existing drive:
   
   
   1. Follow procedures in Removing an Optical Drive to remove the existing drive.
      
      
   2. Remove the three shoulder screws from the existing drive.
      
      
   3. Insert the three shoulder screws into the sides of the new drive and tighten them.
      
      

5. Connect the power and data cables to the drive.
   
   
6. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

7. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
9. Update your configuration information by setting the appropriate Drive option (0 or 1) under Drives. See Entering System Setup for more information.
   
   
10. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    

Floppy Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

Removing a Floppy Drive

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   

NOTE: Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the optical drive, it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the optical drive.

2. Remove the optical drive (see Removing an Optical Drive) and carefully set it aside.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

3. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the floppy drive towards the back of the computer. Then, lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
   
   

1

drive release latch

2

floppy drive

4. Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive.
   
   

Installing a Floppy Drive

1. If you are installing a new drive:
   
   
   1. Use a small flat-edge screw driver on the back side of the drive-panel insert to gently pop off the insert.
      
      
   2. Remove the four shoulder screws from the drive-panel insert.
      
      
2. If you are replacing an existing drive:
   
   

Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing drive.

3. Insert the four shoulder screws into the sides of the new floppy drive and tighten them.
   
   

4. Attach the power and floppy-drive cables to the floppy drive.
   
   
5. Connect the floppy drive cable to the DSKT connector on the system board (see System Board Components for the connector locations).
   
   
6. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1

floppy drive

2

slot verification number

7. Replace the optical drive (see Installing an Optical Drive).
   
   
8. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Enter system setup and set the Diskette Drive option to enable your new floppy drive (see Entering System Setup).
    
    
11. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    

Media Card Reader

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

Removing the Media Card Reader

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   

NOTE: Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the optical drive, it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the optical drive.

2. Remove the optical drive (see Removing an Optical Drive) and carefully set it aside.
   
   

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

3. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the media card reader towards the back of the computer. Then, lift up to remove the media card reader from the computer.
   
   
4. Disconnect the media card reader cable from the back of the media card reader.
   
   

1

media card reader

2

drive release latch

3

media card reader cable

Installing the Media Card Reader

1. If you are installing a new media card reader:
   
   
   1. Use a small flat-edge screw driver on the back side of the drive-panel insert to gently pop off the insert.
      
      
   2. Remove the four shoulder screws from the drive-panel insert.
      
      
2. If you are replacing an existing media card reader:
   
   

Remove the four shoulder screws from the existing media card reader.

3. Insert the four shoulder screws into the sides of the new media card reader and tighten them.
   
   

4. Attach the media card reader cable to the media card reader.
   
   
5. Connect the card reader cable to the USB1 connector on the system board (see System Board Components for the connector location).
   
   
6. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides numbered as 2, and slide the media card reader forward into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1	media card reader	2	shoulder screws (4)	3	media card reader cable
4	shoulder screw slots (2)

7. Replace the optical drive (see Installing an Optical Drive).
   
   
8. Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to provide airflow for the fan and cooling vents.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Enter system setup and set the Diskette Drive option to enable your new media card reader (see Entering System Setup).
    
    
11. Verify that your computer works correctly by running theDell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    

Hard Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

NOTE: If you have two hard drives installed, see Removing and Replacing a Second Hard Drive for removal and replacement instructions for the second hard drive.

Removing the Hard Drive

1. If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.
   
   
2. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   

NOTE: Since the following steps do not require the complete removal of the optical drive and the floppy drive, it is not necessary to disconnect the cables connecting the two drives.

3. Remove the optical drive (see Removing an Optical Drive) from the bay and carefully set it aside.
   
   
4. Remove the floppy drive, media card reader, or second hard drive, if installed, (see Removing a Floppy Drive, Removing the Media Card Reader, or Removing and Replacing a Second Hard Drive) and carefully set it aside.
   
   
5. Squeeze the two plastic securing clips on each side of the hard drive and slide the drive towards the back of the computer.
   
   

1

securing clips (2)

2

hard drive

NOTICE: Do not pull the drive out of the computer by the drive cables. Doing so may cause damage to cables and the cable connectors.

6. Lift the drive out of the computer and disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.
   
   

Installing a Hard Drive

1. Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.
   
   

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

2. If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic hard-drive bracket attached, remove the bracket from the existing drive by unsnapping it from the drive.
   
   

1

hard drive

2

release tabs (2)

3

plastic hard-drive bracket

3. Attach the bracket to the new drive by aligning the two securing tabs with the mounting holes in the hard drive and then rotating the drive down, snapping it onto the bracket
   
   

1	securing tabs (2)	2	drive	3	release tabs (2)
4	plastic hard-drive bracket

4. Connect the power and data cables to the drive.
   
   
5. Locate the correct slot for the drive, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
   
   

1

hard drive

2

slot verification number

6. Replace the floppy drive, media card reader, or second hard drive (see Installing a Floppy Drive, Installing the Media Card Reader, or Removing and Replacing a Second Hard Drive).
   
   
7. Replace the optical drive (see Installing an Optical Drive).
   
   
8. Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. If the drive you just installed is the primary drive, insert a bootable medium into your boot drive.
    
    
11. Turn on the computer.
    
    
12. Enter system setup and update the appropriate Primary Drive option (0 or 2) (see Entering System Setup).
    
    
13. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
14. Partition and logically format your drive before you proceed to the next step.
    
    

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

15. Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    
16. Install your operating system on the hard drive.
    
    

For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

Removing and Replacing a Second Hard Drive

For information on RAID configuration, see About RAID Configurations

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet before removing the computer cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before you begin this procedure.

NOTE: Installation of a second hard drive is restricted to certain configurations of the desktop computer.

1. Check the documentation or the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.
   
   
2. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
3. Remove the computer cover (see Removing the Computer Cover).
   
   
4. Remove the optical drive (if your configuration has one) (see Removing an Optical Drive).
   
   
5. To remove the second hard drive:
   
   
   1. Pull up on the drive release latch and slide the hard drive towards the back of the computer.
      
      
   2. Disconnect the data and power cables from the back of the drive.
      
      
   3. Then, lift up to remove the drive from the computer.
      
      
6. To replace the second hard drive:
   
   
   1. Align the shoulder screws with the screw guides, and slide the drive into the bay until it clicks into place.
      
      
   2. Connect the power and data cables to the back of the drive.
      
      

7. Ensure that the data cable from the second hard drive remains connected to the SATA1 connector on the system board.
   
   

NOTICE: Always connect the data cable to the SATA1 connector when installing (replacing) a second hard drive.

1

data cable

2

hard drive system board connector

8. Replace the optical drive (if your configuration has one). See Installing an Optical Drive.
   
   
9. Replace the computer cover (see Replacing the Computer Cover).
   
   
10. Turn on the computer.
    
    
11. If you have installed a replacement second hard drive, complete step 12 through step 16.
    
    
12. Enter system setup, and update the SATA port option under the Drives option list (see Entering System Setup).
    
    
13. Exit system setup, and reboot the computer.
    
    
14. Partition and logically format your drive.
    
    

NOTE: For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

15. Test the hard drive by running the Dell Diagnostics (see Dell Diagnostics).
    
    
16. Install your operating system on the (new) second hard drive.
    
    

NOTE: For instructions, see the documentation that came with your operating system.

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